A Promise Kept (19 page)

“Well, she was your last serious relationship. I know she hurt you. I don’t care how long ago it was.” She ate the last of the dessert and threw the plate away. “How did you feel about the whole thing, Evan?”

He contemplated for a moment how to put it into words, then remembered Grace’s expression, her comforting look, her warm kiss on his palm. “I was relieved. So grateful that I didn’t end up with her. But I also realized what I’m missing and what I want for my future.”

“Grace?”

“Yeah. Is that crazy?”

She put a hand on his cheek and kissed the other. “Of course not. When you know, you just know. But enjoy your time with her. Take it slow. Listen to her. Be the gentleman I know I raised.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“And no more bar fights, got it?”

They laughed as he made his way upstairs to the woman he wanted for the long haul.

G
race moaned
as Evan braced the back of her head with his strong hand and kissed her deeply, raw heat building between their bodies. A frustrated growl of sexual tension ripped through him, turning her on and making her weep. She throbbed for relief, begged him to touch her. And when his hand scanned down her body and reached the apex of her thighs, she trembled as her body roared to life.

She could feel the arousal grow between them as his greedy kisses ruined her for any other man’s. His teeth nibbled her lip and his fingers dove deep inside her as warmth pulsated between her legs. She wanted the relief of him fully entering and claiming her body, putting her out of her aching misery. He took his time licking and biting her skin as he moved lower and sunk his head between her legs. She cried out as his hot breath hovered over the sensitive, swollen part of her.

“Grace…”

“Don’t stop, Evan.”

“Gracie…”

* * *

H
er eyes popped
open and she sat up, panting in panic. Looking over, Evan sat beside her in bed and snickered with a knowing grin on his face. “Hey, doll, you were dreaming.”

Heat flooded her cheeks as she caught the scene before her. She was in his childhood bedroom. And she…
shit.
Glancing over at him, she saw his shoulders bobbing as he pressed his lips together in an attempt to contain his laughter.

“I-I h-h-had a nightmare.”

“Mmmhmm. Sure you did.” His lightening blue eyes studied her and scanned her breasts. She glanced down and saw her nipples hardened through the material of his Henley. His tongue licked over his bottom lip, and she knew she was busted. “So, how good was I, princess?”

“Shut up!” She fell back into her pillows and covered her face with the bedspread as Evan bellowed in laughter. “Shut up, Matthews! Leave me alone.”

“Grace, baby, nothing to be ashamed of.” He leaned back and tugged on the covers, lowering them to see her expression. She huffed out in an attempt to move stray locks of hair fallen over her face. His hands brushed the tendrils aside. “Those moans were fucking sexy. They woke me up and turned me on. Especially the way you said my name. I was debating whether I should’ve let you finish.”

Grace slapped her hands over her eyes and shook her head. “You’re driving me crazy, Matthews.”

“And you’re driving my restraint crazy, Clark.” He clasped her wrists and pulled them away. “Don’t cover your face, beautiful.”

“You’re like a damn saint for putting up with me, Evan.” She pouted, knowing that she was asking a lot from him. It was only a matter of time before he bailed. “No other guy would wait this out. Why are you?”

He stayed silent as they studied each other, his eyes turning heavy and dark. “There’s something about you, Gracie Lynn.” He gave her a tender kiss and her body thrummed in desire. “And I promised to be good, so I’m trying my best not to take you over.” As he parted, she looked at the opening of his shirt. It had a scooped collar with a three-button placket, and under the left side of his collarbone peeked words from a tattoo.

Grace reached forward and grazed her fingers across it. “You have a tattoo?”

Smiling, he let his fingertips trail her jawline. “I do.”

She pondered how she’d gone so long without knowing that, and she wanted to take time discovering all of him. “What’s it say?” She reached out with her hands to move his shirt aside, but he caught her wrists, his body pinning her down as he pushed her arms back above her head.

“You’ll have to get me naked to find out, Gracie.”

“I thought you said you were trying to be good.”

“I’m still just a man.”

She wriggled under him trying to unlock his grip. “Show me the tat! You’re such a tease.”

“Really, cupcake? Don’t even.” She tried to fight him, but he was too strong, and when she felt his erection against her thigh, she stopped squirming and whimpered in want. “Hi, Gracie Lynn.” His voice was heady and dripping with lust.

“Hey, Matthews.” They gazed at each other with wide eyes, both of their chests pumping in and out with a fervent blaze.

He let her wrists go and he grasped the collar of his shirt with one hand, moving it aside. Her fingertips skimmed across the words inked on his light skin. She inhaled faintly as she read his tattoo, the cursive lettering small –

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

His eyes remained on her as her lashes swept up and she blinked. “How long have you had this tattoo, Evan?”

“Since I was twenty-six. I told you Goethe was my favorite poet.”

She traced the lettering gently, then placed her palm over his heart. “It’s beautiful, Evan.”

“Thanks, Gracie,” he said in a quiet whisper as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Why that quote?”

“Dreams will always stay dreams until you become bold enough to act on them.” Grace stared at him, her mouth agape as he moved to his side of the bed, his back turned towards her. “Try to get some sleep, babe. Our flight leaves tomorrow evening.”

Grace would never get sleep. Not when her body yearned for the man next to her. Not when he desired her just as much. Not when she was falling for him so damn hard and fast she was losing her balance. Being practical and being in deep infatuation at the same time was highly improbable, but not impossible…was it?

* * *

T
he daylight streamed
through the window leaving Grace the opportunity to study the handsome glow of Evan Matthews. She listened to his steady breathing, watching his chest rise and fall under his hand and the way his long lashes fluttered with closed eyes. Her body curled beside his and she contemplated how far her feelings were bourgeoning for this man and his family.

Men never wanted to work for her trust, yet here was this gorgeous creature striving to earn hers. Of course, there had been a few men who swore they’d wait for her, but when it came down to it, they weren’t serious. She saw the red flags, expected them, and she instantly backed away as soon as she spotted them. Evan’s red flags weren’t popping up, and the closer she got, the less she noticed them, no matter how much she kept her heart at bay.

She squiggled out of the bed as quietly as possible and took her clothes with her to the bathroom to change. The smell of something freshly-baked wafted up throughout the second floor and Grace made her way downstairs.

Evan’s mother sat at the kitchen table reading a magazine and sipping on a steamy cup of coffee. Her crystal blue eyes peered over half-mooned spectacles and she smiled. “Good morning, Grace.”

“Good morning.” The younger woman greeted as she made her way over to the coffeemaker and pointed. “May I?”

“Of course, sweetie. Come join me. I have some fresh biscuits here you can munch on. Cream for the coffee’s in the fridge.”

Grace fixed her cup and sat beside the woman Evan so loved. It wasn’t difficult to see it radiate from him when he was around her. Rebecca reached over and handed her a plate then opened the basket with recently baked goods. “Thank you.”

“I hope you’ve had a great Thanksgiving with us, Grace. Evan was so excited when he told me you had agreed to join him.”

“I’m thankful. You have such a fun family.”

“Oh, honey, you just saw a small bit of them. You haven’t met the aunts, uncles, and cousins. We’re a large bunch, so we can get rowdy. Christmas is insane.”

Grace smiled at the notion of a full house. “That’s amazing. Did Evan always know he wanted to be an actor?”

“Oh, yes. Every summer he went to acting camps. He was in every single school play since he was five years old. That boy basically popped out of the womb performing.”

Grace laughed as she drank her coffee. “He’s very talented.”

“Yeah, he’s always had a knack for it. And he was always putting on productions here at the house with his sisters. He was the director, of course, and they had to follow the script he’d write for them. Then when he got the cousins involved it became a huge deal. He was always putting on shows.”

Grace could see younger Evan running around, bossing people into stage positions. “And how did Zach come into the picture?”

“Middle school was tough for Evan. He’s always been my sensitive boy. His father and I divorced and it wasn’t easy on us by any means, even if Evan makes it out to be so. He was affected by it, but he stepped up in the family and took care of us girls. Zach became like his brother, and we took him in when his parents moved away.”

“And Mama Matthews became the number one woman in my life that nobody will ever live up to.” Zach approached and bent to give Rebecca a kiss on the cheek. She reveled in the affection, loving her children more than anything. Including Zach.

“Morning, Zachary. Coffee’s on, and I hope you made up the bed.”

“Since when has Zach ever cleaned after himself?” Hilary entered yawning and pushed Zach away from the coffee machine, grabbing the carafe before he could.

“I’m not a total slob anymore, Hilary.”

“Just a part-time one.” She leaned against the counter and sipped on her black coffee, her eyes closed as she rejoiced the taste. Her straight hair was ratted up on the back of her head and she was still in her oversized pajamas. “Coffee is my life.”

“Thanks for taking the last of it.” Zach grimaced as he began to make more. “Scoot over, walking dead.”

“What’s for breakfast?” Evan strolled in and moved toward the table. He gave his mother a kiss and then leaned over toward Grace, his lips taking hers swiftly. “Mmm, you taste like very sweet coffee, Gracie Lynn.”

“And you taste minty fresh,” Grace said as she ran a hand over Evan’s stubbly jaw.

He sat beside her and served himself a biscuit, slathering butter and strawberry preserves over it. “How’d you sleep, Grace? Anymore nice dreams?”

She gave him a warning look, but nobody seemed to catch on to the intent of his question. “I slept fine, despite your snoring.”

“I may snore, but I definitely don’t talk in my sleep.”

“Evan, stop,” she whispered under her breath.

“That’s not what you said last night, baby doll,” he rumbled near her ear. She reached under the table and pinched his thigh. “Ouch,” he laughed and clasped her hand away from his leg. “Okay. Stopping.”

“I’m guessing there’s some inside joke or sexual overtone type thing going on there, but I’m too tired to inquire or tease at this point. Pass me a biscuit, please.” Hilary sat across from Evan and began to fix her own biscuit as Zach sat beside her.

“You leaving today too, Zach?” Hilary asked as she fixed another biscuit and handed it to him. Rebecca took out eggs and bacon from the fridge and got prepared to cook.

“No. Tomorrow. Gotta catch up on some stuff at my place.” He ate, looking to Evan who had his eyes anchored on Grace. Zach snapped his fingers at him. “Loverboy, Mike told me to set up that meeting for next week, so I’ll get with your schedule and see when you can fly out to L.A. for that.”

Evan’s eyes latched to Zach’s with caution, then looked away and nodded slightly. “Fine.”